Jess and Trisha dive into the world of romance between women, discussing the current publishing landscape and recommending some titles you should check out.

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News 

The podcast 99% Invisible has a new episode about romance novels and their covers!

Looking for just a bit more clinch cover coverage in your life?

One of our faves is getting a special anniversary re-release, and we are decidedly on board.

Books Discussed

Indigo by Beverly Jenkins

Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Alyssa Cole

Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure by Courtney Milan

Satisfaction Guaranteed by Karelia Stetz-Waters

Knit, Purl, a Baby and a Girl by Hettie Bell

Prize Money by Celeste Castro

Small Town Secrets by Katrina Jackson

Femme Like Her by Fiona Zedde

Wrong Number, Right Woman by Jae (Our next book club pick!!)

Send us your favorite romances between (and among) women! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Trisha is joined by very special guest Jenn Northington to discuss Beverly Jenkins’s Vivid and to offer some SFF (and P) romance recs. 

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Listen to Jenn discuss all kinds of other bookish things on Get Booked and SFF Yeah!

If you are also a “cook or bake as you read” person, here’s the recipe Jenn used for what we’re now calling Miss Abigail bread. (It calls for a cast-iron skillet but you can use any oven-safe pan or cake tin of that approximate size.)

AND Jenn was kind enough to also share her (soon to be famous, probably) jam recipe with all of us: 2 cups blueberries; 1 tbs white sugar; ½ tbs lemon juice; a pinch of cinnamon (optional). Mix blueberries, sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon in a saucepan; cook, stirring regularly, over medium heat until thickened, about 30 minutes. It will gel a little more as it cools; an easy way to know if it’s “done” is if you can draw a spoon through it along the bottom of the pan and it takes a second for the pan bottom to be covered up again. (TB note: this recipe apparently does not call for a dutch oven or a double boiler – I checked.)

Books Discussed

Vivid, Wild Rain, and Bring on the Blessings by Beverly Jenkins

The Books of Ambha series by Tasha Suri

In Deeper Waters by FT Lukens

The Heroine Complex series by Sarah Kuhn

Briarley by Aster Glenn Gray

Touched By An Alien by Gini Koch

The Off the Grid series by Alyssa Cole (First book is Radio Silence)

The Heart is a Universe by Sherry Thomas

Sword Stone Table: Old Legends, New Voices edited by Swapna Krishna and Jenn Northington (Out July 14)

Send us your favorite SFF(P) books AND your favorite bookish recipes! You can find Jenn on Twitter and Tumblr (@jennIRL) and on Instagram (@iamjennirl). And as always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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After some kitchen appliance romance-related follow-up, Jess and Trisha return to the topic of romance covers and recommend some options for your #SpringIntoLoveBingo reading.

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News

Use #SpringIntoLoveBingo and #RomBkLove on Twitter as ways to find your next spring read!

Don’t forget to send any questions or thoughts about Vivid by May 13 for our book club episode (which will drop Monday, May 17).

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Books Discussed

Vivid by Beverly Jenkins

The Lady’s Champion by Marie Lipscomb 

Touch Me by Alexandria House 

The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy E. Reichert

Bear’s Gold by Yvette Hines

In the Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish

The Hate Project by Kris Ripper (Quick note on this one: Jess mentioned that a character in this book was deceased, but that relative is actually in care.)

Send us your thoughts on Vivid and whatever else you’re reading this spring! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess and Trisha share listener recs, reveal the May WIR Book Club pick, talk about the Vivians and romance awards generally, and discuss and recommend slow burn romances.

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News 

We’re discussing Vivid by Beverly Jenkins on our episode that comes out May 17! Feel free to send us all of your thoughts and feelings before we record that episode on May 13. 

The Vivian finalists have been announced.

If you don’t remember how the Vivian Awards came to be, let Jess remind you.  

For comparison, check out the Swoon Awards, the Ripped Bodice Awards, and the ReadRChat awards.

Books Discussed

Sweet Disorder by Rose Lerner

Wrong Number, Right Woman by Jae

Office Hours by Katrina Jackson

If the Boot Fits by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Yes & I Love You by Roni Loren

Craving Flight by Tamsen Parker

The Preacher’s Promise by Piper Hughley

Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle

Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

Well Met by Jen DeLuca

Signal Boost by Alyssa Cole

His Perfect Partner by Priscilla Oliveras

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

Send us your thoughts on slow burn romances…and any insight you have on what a toaster oven romance is. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess and Trisha talk about the next round of the WIR book club and discuss and recommend romances featuring married couples.

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News 

The WIR book club is back! Send your votes to [email protected]! (Options are below)  

Books Discussed

Sweet Disorder by Rose Lerner (Book club option!)

Wrong Number, Right Woman by Jae (Book club option!)

Vivid by Beverly Jenkins (Book club option!)

Office Hours by Katrina Jackson (Book club option!)

The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

Maybe Next Time by Christina C. Jones

Rend by Roan Parrish

A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev

The Captain’s Midwinter Bride by Liana de la Rosa

Send us your book club votes! And your favorite adventure romances! And your favorite married couple romances! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess and Trisha dive into romance films, discussing the way non-romance readers view adaptations, debating whether certain films marketed as romance actually fit the definition, and offering a few recommendations.

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News

Thanks to all of you who reminded us of the excellent work Lee and Low Books has done with their Diversity Baseline Survey.

We also talked a bit about Nick and Ari’s full critique of the Ribbed Bodice Diversity in Romance report.

Please enjoy this delightful news about the adaptation of Rebekah Weatherspoon’s Cowboys of California trilogy [The Hollywood Reporter by Lexy Perez] 

Films Discussed

Happiest Season

The Mummy

The Big Sick

Crazy Rich Asians

The Lovebirds

The Wedding Plan

Tangled

Juanita

Deliver Us from Eva

Share your thoughts on all things romance film – including what films you play “is it a romance?” with! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess and Trisha discuss three news stories related to inclusion, exclusion, and diversity in romance. Then they talk about books they’ve been reading (and how one of those books is like a cancelled TV political drama).

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News 

Here’s the (current version of the) Sourcebooks/E L James press release. 

Meryl Wilsner’s twitter thread about their experience being disinvited from a library event is here.

The most recent Ripped Bodice “State of Racial Diversity in Romance Publishing” is out as well, though some on Twitter raised concerns. 

And if you need additional information about Designated Survivor, I don’t blame you and have you covered. 

This post contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, Book Riot may earn a commission.

Books Discussed

Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner

Touch Me by Alexandria House

The Home I Find With You by Skye Kilaen

A Lady’s Formula for Love by Elizabeth Everett

If The Boot Fits by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Let us know what romance topics you’re thinking about and what you’re reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess and Trisha discuss some non-terrible Valentine’s week romance coverage, talk about the way romance represents the experience of being Black in history…and Trisha has a confession to make.

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News

As discussed, our fellow Rioters Silvana and Carole are just the best. 

Please enjoy the romance coverage from NPR via podcast and this interview Beverly Jenkins did with Karen Grigsby Bates.

Also the New York Times has come a long way, y’all. [NYT]

There WAS in fact a Reading Pathways piece on Book Riot about Beverly Jenkins! And it was written by yet another of the actual best, Amanda Diehl [insert heart eyes emoji].

This is your regular reminder (from Trisha) to read this Book Riot piece about Bridgerton (by Jess).

Post show note: Okay, we were wrong, and Black Panther came out in 2018. Time is complicated!

Books Discussed

Indigo, Forbidden, and basically everything else by Beverly Jenkins

That Could Be Enough and Agnes Moor’s Wild Knight by Alyssa Cole

Confessions in B Flat by Donna Hill

The Preacher’s Promise by Piper Hughley

A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby by Vanessa Riley

The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan

Rafe and Xeni by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Two Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastian

Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn

Please send Trisha your favorite romances that aren’t especially plot-driven (she clearly needs the help). As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess and Trisha discuss Nora Roberts’s lack of time for nonsense, authors behaving badly, and the unique world of category romance – along with a few recs, of course.

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News

Nora Roberts doesn’t care what you think [Entertainment Weekly]

Here’s a way not to write outside of your own experience. 

In case you’re curious, here a bit more info about category romance…and here’s a little more info about Pregnesia.

Books Discussed

Seducing His Secret Wife by Robin Covington

Bane by Brenda Jackson

The Flapper’s Fake Fiancé by Lauri Robinson

Pregnesia by Carla Cassidy

Let us know if YOU have favorite category romance – and keep sharing your romance reading origin stories! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess and Trisha do a bit of Bridgerton follow-up, celebrate a When In Romance anniversary, and discuss romances by debut authors they’re watching for.

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News

Read Jess’s excellent piece about the Bridgerton adaptation casting decisions and trauma centered on Black characters.

We talked about WIR Ep #22, featuring special guest Rebekah Weatherspoon.

And Trisha stands by her Carrie Underwood reference.

Books Discussed

For the Love of April French by Penny Aimes

Happy Endings by Thien-Kim Lam

A Lady’s Formula for Love by Elizabeth Everett

Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers

Love in Color: Mythical Tales From Around the World, Retold by Bobu Babalola

Sweethand by N.G. Peltier

Let us know what your favorite WIR moments have been, share your romance origin stories, and tell us what romance titles you’re excited about in 2021. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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